A day in the life...

What a day yesterday was! Let me give you an idea of what I went to sleep last night having experienced on Sunday:
*A great 8:30 service with a group of people I love dearly,
*An awesome 10:45 service seeing God move among us through His Spirit,
*Lunch with the love of my life (Shauna), and my amazing deacons and their wives,
*A family meeting that went, as usual, very well with our hearts united,
*An evangelism training session, where I can see God's people being stirred up to reach the lost (even getting to hear one story from Whitney Heird of winning 5 girls to Christ at Girls' State last week!!!)
*A simply awe inspiring, amazing time of laying on of hands and prayer with Michael, Gary K, Joel, and Doug over a man in much need of a touch from above last night after Evangelism Training (the Holy Spirit was there in a powerful way and we were reminded by Him that this is what we're called to do - almost felt like we were in the book of Acts in the early church...it was sweet!)
*I then went home to my amazing gift of God of a wife. Life is good.

God has renewed my passion to do what He's called me to do. In all my life I've had different aspirations. When I was young I thought I wanted to be a policeman. I truly thought that would be my profession. For a while it was a C-130 pilot in the air force. And I'll admit - for a while I even thought I'd be in politics eventually...(some still think that should happen, but I've referred them to some really good doctors for counseling... :) ).
However, as I've really searched my heart God has confirmed something within me: in all my life, there's only been two things I've realized I could not live without. There have only been two things that my heart BURNED to do - that I realize I would have an inescapable void in my life if they weren't there. Two things, just two. One - be a husband to Shauna. From the first time I met this amazing woman, I realized she would be my wife...it just took me 10 months to convince her. :) I want to be her husband - I HAVE to be her husband. Without her in my life, I'd not be who I am today. I need my wife. That's one.
The other holds just as strong of a hold on my heart. God called me, at the age of 14, to preach. There's no doubt in my mind - nothing had ever been clearer to me in my life that far - He was calling. And I answered. Along the way there have been distractions. In the past year and a half there have been distractions. Pastoring a church is not a breeze, let me tell ya. There's overseeing staff, budgets, ministries, dealing with possible conflicts, counseling, being on call 24/7...and then brilliant me went off and joined the Fire Department and became a Chaplain...which added another on call 24/7 hat to my head. I'm not knocking that, though, God has been good in giving me so many opportunities to share Him through that ministry, and I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world! If you think I am tired of being on the FD you must realize: if I got tired, I'm simply quit - it's just that simple. I'm not tired - I LOVE IT!
All that to say this: I love what He's given me the privilege of doing. He called me to preach, and I get to do that 7 days a week - not just on Sunday! And on Sunday - I get to do it twice in the morning alone! Sure there are "down days" when things seem tough and mountains seem too tall to climb. But you see, it's in those days that He speaks to my word and reminds me...it's with faith the size of a mustard seed that those mountains can be MOVED, not just climbed! What a mighty God we serve, and His grace, mercy, goodness, and benevolent blessings blow my mind.
In December 2007, Shauna and I left "home" at Victory Baptist Church in Cabot. We left Shauna's family who lived 5 minutes from us, and mine that lived 15 minutes from us. We left DEEP friendships that had developed over 5 years or more of ministry. We left a good, vibrant ministry that had a very bright future with all kinds of possibilities to reach students and their families. Sure, we LEFT a lot. But more and more each day, I'm realizing what we GOT. We GOT a church family that's second to none, that loves one another and will fight to the finish to support one of us in need. We GOT friends that are amazing. I don't mean to single anyone out, but Joel, Michael, Doug, John, Charlie...and the list goes on and on. I got friends - people I can unload to without worry of it backfiring. And then God brought Josh and Marty back to me by bringing them here, as well. Since that unanimous vote in December of 2007, our lives have changed drastically - but only for the better. We still have lasting friendship with folks in Cabot - don't know where I'd be today without Bro. Ben, just to name one. He's a second dad, or grandpa...whichever title he chooses! God brought us here, but allowed us to continue friendships that matter so deeply to us. Whoa...God overwhelms me sometimes.

So today, take great JOY in what you do - He's placed you there for a reason.
You are a missionary - every single one of you. Don't let anyone slip into hell without fighting for their soul.

Your Pastor loves you more than you know.
blake